Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla Prediction and Preview – 07/04/16

Europa League preview – Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla prediction.

Veteran central defender Carlos Gurpegis is likely to be given the job to replace Aymeric Laporte who has been one of the stand out performers for Bilbao this season. Winger Sabin Merino has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury suffered at the weekend while his natural replacement, Iker Muniain, is racing to recover from a similar issue. Iker Williams could start on the right flank after the talented 21-year-old made his comeback from injury as a substitute against Granada on Sunday.

Unai Emery has no new injury concerns but is expected to make changes following the defeat against Real Sociedad at the weekend. The Sevilla coach has the option of using Michael Krohn-Dehli who has returned from a brief spell out with a knee injury. Steven N’Zonzi is eligible for the quarter-final after missing the last Europa League match through suspension and Yevhen Konoplyanka could return to the lineup after being rested at the weekend. Goalkeeper David Soria has been a regular during the competition and is expected to regain the position from Sergio Rico.

Possible Line-ups

Athletic Bilbao 4-2-3-1 formation: Herrerin; De Marcos, Etxeita, Gurpegi, Balenziaga; San Jose, Benat; Muniain, Garcia, Williams; Aduriz

Sevilla 4-2-3-1 formation: Soria; Mariano, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas; N’Zonzi, Cristoforo; Konoplyanka, Banega, Krohn-Dehli; Gameiro

Statistics

• Athletic Bilbao have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
• Sevilla have won 3 drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Athletic Bilbao have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Sevilla have scored an average of 1.3 goals and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Athletic Bilbao’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Sevilla’s previous 10 matches

Prediction 

Athletic Bilbao qualified at the expense of another Spanish club, Valencia on the away goals rule in the previous round. The have scored in all but one, the first, of 13 games in a long Europa League campaign. Bilbao are unbeaten at home in the competition but in reaching the later stages have drawn two of the last three, against AZ and Marseilles. They go into the game having lost two of the last three in all competitions and on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Granada. 

It had to come at some point, but Emery would have hoped for better timing to lose his first home match in La Liga this season. The 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday followed a 4-0 drubbing away to Real Madrid prior to the international break and was far from ideal preparation for the trophy Sevilla had targeted after being eliminated from the Champions League. Sevilla have failed to score in their two Europa League away games which falls in line with their La Liga away record of 10 goals while recording 0 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats.

Sevilla have lost on their last five trips to Bilbao and given this season’s away form, it will take a brave punter to bet on Emery’s side winning the first leg.

Tips 

Draw at 127/50 with Marathonbet

Under 2.5 goals at 23/25 with Marathonbet

Correct Score 1-1 at 6/1 with BetVictor

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